That would be a direct short Martin. The electrolyte (liquid) acts as a resistance load in the circuit, that is needed to regulate the current flow. If the two leads were in direct contact with each other then there would be no restriction for current flow and it would flow at it’s maximum rate for a few seconds until something burned up.
Also the purpose of the electrolyte is to provide a broad path for the electrons to move thru from the entire surface of the part, if the electrodes were shorted then all of the current (electrons) would take the path of least resistance, which would be at the short.

Try to picture the ideal arrangement, which would be to have an electrode that was like a bubble that totally surrounded the part and where every surface no matter where you measured it was exactly the same distance from the electrode. Of course this is theoretical and the best that we could hope for in the real world is to bend the electrode roughly to the shape of the part. In you mind try to picture the electrons flowing from the part to the electrode. If you simply have a bar in the bath directly over the center of a tailgate for instance there is less resistance (less electrolyte) for the electrons to flow thru at the center. At the ends there is more electrolyte for the electrons to flow thru therefore more resistance therefore less current flow. In other words the areas closest to the electrode are going to clean up sooner than those further away.
Hope that helps explain the process a little.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny G
Sandwich, IL